Re using birthday candles

[mammmamia]

Aibu to use them more than once? Have seen lots of people pulling them out of the cake and chucking them once they’ve been blown out. This just didn’t occur to me. Don’t people use them again if they’ve only burned for a minute?

I take them out of the cake and clean the bottom to get the cake off then use them again. If they’re small ones with the little candle holders I clean the holders.
Or this unhygienic? Is life too short or is it right to reuse these things?

Seriously you only use candles once then chuck them. Why would you do that?

ClaraLane

Yes, I think the fabric ones would be a good idea. I’ll need to buy quite a few as we always decorate all our downstairs rooms but still better for the environment and cheaper than buying every year. 😊

I reuse, interestingly enough I passed on all the brand new pink ones we only seem to use blue / bright candles.

I wonder if its a cultural thing. I'm American and have never reused candles. Never even occurred to me. They are so cheap. I don't know anyone that saves them. Not saying it never happens here but I've never known anyone to do that.

I've been using my musical candle for years.

thank you - 98% say I am NBU!

Yanbu. What kind of lunatic throws them away? I know they aren’t terribly expensive but it just seems like a waste.

I have a little box of them. I generally buy new for parties where other children will be, but if we’re singing happy birthday in the house as we’ll usually do at least once if not more per birthday I re use!

It never occurred to me to throw them away!!!!! We clean the plastic holders but some of ours are at least 14 years old!!!!!

Ive been reusing them all my life and have quite a nice life so not sure about the bad luck thing !

I’ve always thrown them away personally. I use the holders but the candles still always manage to get bits of cake on them, it’s not worth keeping them really when they’re so cheap.

I kept the 5&0 candles for my 50th. They were used when my sister turned 50, they are now back in my keepsake box.

My parents always just chucked them and so I assumed that was 'normal'. I had it pointed out to me that most other people reused them and agree it makes much more sense!

(My parents justification wasn't hygiene but just that used ones don't look as nice the next time)

I hate them, they always drip wax all over the cake, it makes me really anxious. My 7yr olds caterpillar cake was ruined by the "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" letter ones.

I always chuck them aiming to find ones that don't do that - and never can!

We had this very conversation last week on my daughters birthday. My kids must have strong constitutions as we have been using the same candles/holders since my eldest's 1st birthday and she is 18! i dont wash them, just put them back in the bag for the next birthday!

Hasn't everyone got a kitchen drawer like this??!

I've got a jar full of cake candles and holders that are nearly as old as I am (45) and they still get used to this day. I've even got a ballerina in there that was on the cake for my 7th birthday. Oddly enough DS has always declined to have that on his cake.

Always reuse. Or use them to light the fire as wax burns well.

bookmum08 - 12 or 21? My usual statement of my age is that I'm approaching 21, but I won't say from which direction.

I've never reused them. Once the wicks are blackened they don't look nice. I'm not spending hours making a cake to then put used candles on it. I guess if I bring the cake out with the candles lit then no one would know but our tradition is to have the cake ready for the morning of the birthday. I do a different design each year and the candles are usually colour coordinated with the cake.
I reuse and recycle most things, just not birthday cake candles.

We re-use them, I love the little ones, the thought that they've been used for dad's birthday then Grandma's next time for example, it ties in all the little memories you have. But I'm a bit of a sad sentimental cow 😂😂

twosheds I can't remember which age my mum chose.
I think I would go for 12.

I've accidentally thrown them out before and felt embarrassed because it was pointlessly wasteful.

I’m so pleased I started this thread

We just had DD's first birthday. When the number 1 candle was blown out, DH seized it and said 'right, time to store this until the teen years!'

I am so mean, I still have the same candles from forever, just realised I am still reusing some from a packet from first DD - she is 23!!!! I just wash the little plastic holders and stick in candles which still have some life in them.